The Echo Chamber from Tortoise Shack

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In this podcast two-term Senator and candidate in the upcoming Seanad election, Lynn Ruane, sits down to talk about her work in Leinster House, her dedication to the people of her community and the importance of not giving up.

This is a broad conversation about class, politics, the criminal justice system, society and yes, even a little bit of philosophy. But I know Foucault about that.

The Housing 2025 podcast is here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/patron-exclusive-119510756

Please join us in 2025.

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Listeners will know Palestinian journalist Mahmoud Mushtaha has the brave reporter who would update the world from Shifa Hospital during the Israeli attacks. You might also recall his reports on the famine sweeping Gaza and him having to eat animal food to survive.

Today he’s in the UK, studying at University and still advocating for the end of the war and the rights of his people. He’s also now a published author and is working on his second book. Mahmoud shares his thoughts on the situation and his journey in what we hope is ultimately an uplifting story of his determination. A remarkable man.

The Housing 2025 Pod is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/119510756

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Spanish politics has had everything recently, lawfare, corruption, love letters, natural disaster mishandling and a hard left that is eating itself. Rejoining us on the podcast is Madrid-based Prof Joe Haslam and (also) Madrid-based journalist and host of the Sobremesa Podcast, Eoghan Gilmartin.

This is very broad and we get into the issues of immigration, housing and the rise of the far right in what should be a warning for us in Ireland.

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In this 2024/25 special we sit down with journalist with El Pais in Mexico City, Nicholas Dale Leal, who brings us on both a geographical and ideological tour of Latin America from Milei’s anarcho-capitalist Argentina to Sheinbaum’s socially-democratic-with-a-side-of-cartel Mexico and everything in between. The great breakdown of Latin America and what the Trump presidency could mean that you didn’t know you needed to hear.

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Dr. Nour Nafez Hammad is a Palestinian educator and scholar who is engaged in the fields of literature and education. In this episode of PalCast, she speaks of personal loss, the role of storytelling and literature in creating a Palestine away from the control of Israeli narrative. She explains how the use of literature, videos and social media posts are a way of maintaining some sanity in what is an insane situation. Tune in for much more.

Support the AFSC @ https://afsc.org/

Details for the Sameer Project are @ https://www.patreon.com/posts/118211557

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In this 2024/2025 tortoise shack special we are joined by journalist and Our Man in Stockholm, Mr Philip O’Connor, to discuss how the (sadly many) missed opportunities of 2024 can be seen as learnings for 2025.

We talk politics, media and the need for a more combative opposition within both areas. Then Philip makes the case for moving beyond solidarity to what he calls Radical Compassion. Please have a listen.

(And get him a job hosting an Irish tv show)

Please help the Sameer Project here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/118211557

Also the AFSC are doing amazing work, support them here:https://afsc.org/

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In this wrap of 2024 we skip over the Irish Sea to talk with listener favourite, Prof Richard Murphy, about the UK’s year of turmoil and the stability of having a politics of not very much ambition.

Richard talks about how the Labour Party had continued to impose rules upon itself under the guise of fiscal prudence, whilst offering a seat at the table to some of the biggest capitalist predators in the world. Global Britain in 2025? We will see.

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Listeners will remember Ann Marie Flanagan from our 'No on the Care Referendum' podcast. Well she’s decided that the best way for to see the promises made after that failed referendum is for her to be at the table where the legislation gets written and negotiated. So she’s running for the Seanad and joins us to talk all about her ambitions for the work and representing the disabled community as a member of it in national politics.

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Banias is a wonderful a 8-year old child living in Gaza, now displaced in Al-Zawayda. She joins us to speak of the dreams that she still carries and the life that she left behind in her home, now destroyed, in Gaza city,

Banias shares her hopes for the new year, talks about rebuilding Gaza, wanting to visit New York, her favourite Christmas film, Home Alone, and how much she wants to see an end to the war. Her mom, Maram, also joins us towards the end of the conversation. Banias likes Christmas, and she lit up this podcast. Let’s hold her and the people of Gaza in the light during this holiday season. Tune in for more

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In this wrap of 2024 we are joined by the dream team of Shamim Malekmian and Harry McEvansoneya, to look back over 2024, share a few laughs and worry about the direction of travel in too much of global politics. We talk heroes, villains and the stories that included both of those. All Hail the Bike Shed.

Happy Christmas from Donna and Blitzen!

The Child's Wish from Gaza Pod is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/118607091

Prof Richard Murphy on the UK's 2024 is out now here:https://www.patreon.com/posts/118100221